Cincinnati Burning

In a complete case of throw-back to the deep South in the 1950’s, a Cincinnati landlord has been found guilty of violating Ohio’s Civil Rights Act. While there are civil rights violations on a daily basis, seldom do you see the level of outright bigotry as displayed by one Jamie Hein. What do you ask is the nature of the offense that has brought these charges, seen Ms. Hein (yes, Ms.) found guilty of violating the act, and now has her appealing the ruling? She placed a sign that say “Public Swimming Pool, White Only” on the gated entrance to the apartment complex swimming pool.

The well-thought out reason for this pre-LBJ era public display of discrimination was the chemicals used in the target of this bigotry’s hair would turn the water cloudy. Thanks to this poor excuse for an excuse and the testimony of several witnesses who saw the sign posted, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission found Ms. Hein guilty of the charges.

Every American has their prejudices and biases that at some point, and usually at the most inopportune of times comes out, but on a day to day basis it seldom elevates itself beyond the immediate sphere of where the offense occurred. Unfortunately, as far as we have come since the middle of the 20th century into some individual enlightenment and acceptance of what we really knew all along (it is individuals who make themselves unworthy, not a race of people), we still have not yet evolved to a place where at some point personal prejudice does not show through in some way, shape or form. What separates us from our earlier generations is a willingness to actually recognize our individual faults and make an attempt at amends, and try to grow beyond our faults.

There are still people running around in their white sheets acting in a shameful manner towards non-Caucasian races, skinheads will spew their hate and act out violently, ethnic groups lash out against others simply because they do not share the same ethnicity as they do, and corporations still have policies that promote and provide pay commensurate with your breeding or upbringing as opposed to the skills you bring to the table. That is why we have agencies such as the EEOC or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission to aid in correcting these institutional wrongs and provide some sort of punitive management over the offenders.

This particularly poisonous cup of kool-aid needs to be dealt with as it has and should not even be given the opportunity to be appealed. The facts speak for themselves and the admission of guilt was given by the perpetrator. This incident caused not only the visiting girl who the sign was directed at to take action, but the parents she was visiting to move their home. No one, especially in this day and age should be subject to such an obvious act of discrimination. It is appalling and stands directly in the face of all we have overcome and places roadblocks in the path we have set for ourselves. America portrays itself as the moral high horse throughout the world, but our individual citizens can still find it within themselves to violate law and in doing so directly attack the people with their bigotry and self-loathing. How as a nation can we speak out against these same types of violations in other, developing countries when we have people here conducting themselves in the same way and when found in violation by the systems set in place to protect the rights of the individual, provide them with a means to further tax our already burdened systems with the ability to appeal.